By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Alex Cabagnot, Arwind Santos and Encho Serrano are set to banner the Pampanga G Lanterns team in the 2023 Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) season.

The three active PBA cagers were curiously listed in the official roster released by the G Lanterns yesterday despite having live contracts with their current PBA squad.

The 40-year-old Cabagnot just signed a fresh deal with the Terrafirma Dyip last April 2022, while the 41-year-old Santos still has an existing one-year deal with NorthPort Batang Pier until May.

For his part, the Pampanga-native Serrano is also still under his rookie contract with the Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters, which is to expire by May this year.

If ever Cabagnot and Santos’ move to the G Lanterns pushes through, it will serve as their reunion following their successful partnership at San Miguel Beermen, where they won nine PBA titles.

However, the retooling of the Beermen during the 2021-2022 PBA Season has led to the Cabagnot being traded to the Dyip and the Santos to the Batang Pier.

Also rostered with the G Lanterns is former Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots center Jean Marc Pingris, who is making a return to competitive basketball after almost four years of inactivity.

The 41-year-old Pingris, who recently resigned as Pilipinas Super League commissioner, was previously reported to play for Imus SV Squad but no deal was reached.

Other notable names in the current Pampanga roster were Justine Baltazar, King Caralipio, Louie Sangalang, Archie Concepcion, Kurt Reyson, and Earnest Reyes.

The G Lanterns, which came from their PSL championship last month, are set to open the 2023 MPBL season campaign against Negros Muscovados in Pampanga on Thursday, April 13./ASC, WDJ